Human | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 27, 2021 | |||
Recorded | 2019–2021 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 34:51 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
| |||
OneRepublic studio album chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Human | ||||
Human is the fifth studio album by American pop rock band OneRepublic. It was released through Mosley Music Group and Interscope Records on August 27, 2021, over four years after their fourth album Oh My My (2016), marking this their longest gap between studio releases in the band's existence. After the health issues that affected the band's lead singer, songwriter and producer Ryan Tedder, OneRepublic decided to work on a standalone singles strategy to promote the album. With that, Human deals with lyrical themes surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as life and the connectivity between humanity and nature.
Human includes electronic production consisting of drum machines, synthesizers and manipulated vocals. In addition to the band's own Tedder and Brent Kutzle, OneRepublic recruited producers Steve Wilmot and Zach Skelton, who worked on the band's previous album, as well as producers Tyler Spry and John Nathaniel.
Six singles supported the album: "Rescue Me", "Wanted", "Didn't I", "Better Days", "Run", "Someday" also including the singles "Lose Somebody" and "Wild Life", released as bonus tracks on the digital deluxe edition of the album. "Somebody to Love" preceded the album as a promotional single. The album polarized music critics, who admired the lyricism and composition of some tracks, but were divided over the overproduced vocals, opaque production, and the excess of rap-trap verses and melodies in much of the songs.
After a period of delays, Human peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 in its debut week, falling below the debut weeks of Native (2013) and Oh My My (2016) but surpassing Dreaming Out Loud (2007) and Waking Up (2009). The album also reached the top twenty in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, and Switzerland.
The album was announced by frontman Ryan Tedder in September 2019, with a planned release in "late November" of that year. Tedder stated that he wanted to put out an album with eight or nine songs and then continue releasing new music in 2020. Tedder later revealed that the album had been delayed until the second quarter of 2020 because it was "physically impossible to finish an album in the timeframe that we thought we needed it", and he believed the album would not be successful if released between Thanksgiving and Christmas. [1] Tedder also said the band had "two years worth of songs just scattered on hard drives" and were trying to find and finish "the best ones" to make "a coherent album out of the last two years". [1] Tedder stated that the May 8 release date was delayed because of it being a "weird time", amid the COVID-19 pandemic. [2] The band also stated, "due to the current circumstances requiring us to distance ourselves from each other and you, the release has been postponed." [3] On July 1, 2021, the band announced via their Instagram account that the official release date for Human would be August 27, 2021. [4]
The lead single "Rescue Me" was released on May 17, 2019, and reached number five on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100. [5] "Wanted" was released as the second single on September 6, 2019, and reached number nine on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. [5] The third single "Didn't I" was released alongside the album pre-order on March 13, 2020, and reached number 19 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. [6] "Better Days" was released as the fourth single on March 25, 2020. [7] "Run" was released as the fifth single on May 5, 2021, [8] and reached number 11 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. [5] "Someday" was released as the sixth single on August 27, 2021, along with the album's release. [9] [10] [11]
The album also includes the promotional single "Somebody to Love", released on September 11, 2019. It was written by songwriter JT Roach on the series Songland , on which Tedder serves as a judge. [12]
"Lose Somebody", a collaboration with Kygo, was released on May 15, 2020, and reached number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It appears on Kygo's third studio album Golden Hour . [13] "Wild Life" was released on September 25, 2020, for the soundtrack of the 2020 film Clouds . [14] Both songs only appear on the deluxe edition of Human.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Vinyl Chapters | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Young Folks | 7/10 [17] |
Human received mixed reviews from music critics. Much of it was divided on Tedder's production and vocals on several tracks, while the lyricism and melodies were praised on certain tracks and received negatively on others due to the excess of rap-trap verses.
Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic called the album proof that OneRepublic are still the "masters of the galloping, upbeat pop anthem, packing whistles, handclaps, throbbing basslines, and dance beats into every second of a song" but also mentions that "by including tracks that have been around since 2019, much of the effort feels like a time capsule of days gone by (especially in such an ever-changing genre) and, in a harsher sense, of dated material that can sound out of place when presented as a whole vision years later". [15] Vinyl Chapters' Zoë Andrea-Lykourgou wrote that "Human is a solid album that starts and ends considerably strongly. It's relatively easy to listen to and, whilst the quality does vary in places, there are more than a few powerful tracks that keep the listener interested throughout". [16]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Run" |
|
| 2:48 |
2. | "Distance" |
| 3:00 | |
3. | "Someday" |
|
| 3:07 |
4. | "Didn't I" |
|
| 3:27 |
5. | "Rescue Me" |
|
| 2:39 |
6. | "Savior" |
| 3:01 | |
7. | "Take Care of You" |
|
| 3:48 |
8. | "Forgot About You" |
| 2:53 | |
9. | "Somebody to Love" |
|
| 3:01 |
10. | "Wanted" |
|
| 2:16 |
11. | "Take It Out on Me" |
| 2:27 | |
12. | "Better Days" |
|
| 2:24 |
Total length: | 34:51 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Lose Somebody" (with Kygo) |
|
| 3:19 |
Total length: | 38:10 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Wild Life" |
|
| 4:27 |
14. | "Ships + Tides" |
|
| 4:56 |
15. | "Someday" (acoustic) |
|
| 3:05 |
16. | "Lose Somebody" (with Kygo) |
| 3:19 | |
Total length: | 50:36 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Wild Life" |
|
| 4:27 |
14. | "Ships" |
|
| 3:11 |
15. | "Tides" |
|
| 1:43 |
16. | "Run" (acoustic) |
|
| 2:48 |
17. | "Someday" (acoustic) |
|
| 3:05 |
18. | "Lose Somebody" (with Kygo) |
| 3:19 | |
Total length: | 53:24 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Wild Life" |
|
| 4:27 |
14. | "Ships" |
|
| 3:11 |
15. | "Tides" |
|
| 1:43 |
16. | "Run" (acoustic) |
|
| 2:48 |
17. | "Someday" (acoustic) |
|
| 3:05 |
18. | "Better Days (Giorni Migliori)" (with Negramaro) |
|
| 2:24 |
19. | "Lose Somebody" (with Kygo) |
| 3:19 | |
Total length: | 55:48 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Wild Life" |
|
| 4:27 |
14. | "Ships" |
|
| 3:11 |
15. | "Tides" |
|
| 1:43 |
16. | "Run" (Latin version) (with Mariah Angeliq) |
|
| 2:16 |
17. | "Someday" (acoustic) |
|
| 3:05 |
18. | "Better Days (Mejores Días)" (with Khea) |
|
| 2:24 |
19. | "Lose Somebody" (with Kygo) |
| 3:19 | |
Total length: | 55:16 |
Notes
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Belgium (BEA) [50] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [51] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [52] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV) [53] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [54] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
"Higher Love" is a 1986 song by English singer Steve Winwood. It was the first single released from his fourth solo LP, Back in the High Life (1986). It was written by Winwood and Will Jennings and produced by Russ Titelman and Winwood. The background vocals were performed by Chaka Khan, who also appeared in the music video.
OneRepublic is an American pop rock band from Colorado Springs, Colorado, formed in 2002. The lineup currently consists of Ryan Tedder, Zach Filkins, Drew Brown (guitar), Brent Kutzle, Eddie Fisher (drums), and Brian Willett.
Dreaming Out Loud is the debut studio album by American pop rock band OneRepublic. The album was released on November 20, 2007, by Interscope Records. The album was recorded between 2004 and 2007 and it was produced by Greg Wells, with two songs produced by OneRepublic’s lead singer Ryan Tedder, and was engineered and mixed by Joe Zook. The album followed two years of massive success on Myspace; the band had appeared in Myspace Music's Top Artists since early 2006, with over 28 million total song plays counted.
American pop rock band OneRepublic has released six studio albums, one live album, six extended plays, 39 singles, 10 promotional singles, and 31 music videos. Formed in 2002, OneRepublic first found commercial recognition when their song "Apologize" was released onto Myspace in 2006 and they subsequently became the biggest act on that site. It was remixed by American record producer Timbaland, appearing on his album Shock Value. Released as a single in 2007, the song topped the charts in multiple countries, including Australia and Canada, while also reaching the top three in the United States and the United Kingdom. It has since sold over 3.6 million digital downloads in the United States. The band's debut studio album, Dreaming Out Loud, was released in November 2007. It hit the top ten on the albums charts of countries such as Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. It also peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard 200, earning a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album's second single, "Stop and Stare", peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 while also reaching the top five in Austria and the United Kingdom. The album spawned three more singles: "Say ", "Mercy", and "Come Home".
The discography of American group Jonas Brothers consists of six studio albums, three live albums, three soundtrack albums, one compilation album, one video album, three extended plays, and 30 singles.
Panic! at the Disco is an American rock band that originated in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their 2005 debut album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, reached number 13 on the US Billboard 200, and has sold more than 2.2 million copies in the US (pure) and been certified 4× platinum by the RIAA since its September 2005 release, spearheaded by the eight platinum top-10 hit single, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies". The band's second album, Pretty. Odd., was released on March 21, 2008, entering the US chart at, and peaking at, number 2 and is certified platinum by RIAA. Their third effort, Vices & Virtues, was released on March 18, 2011, and peaked at number 7 in the US and is certified gold by RIAA, spawned iconic comeback smash hit "The Ballad of Mona Lisa". Their fourth album, 2013's Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, entered and peaked at number 2 on the US chart, and contained hits such as "Miss Jackson", "This Is Gospel", and "Girls / Girls Boys". The band's fifth studio album, Death of a Bachelor, was released in January 2016 and became their first number-one album in the US. It has been certified 2× platinum in 2019. It is currently the most streamed album. Their sixth album, Pray for the Wicked, was released on June 22, 2018, and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. It has been certified 2× platinum by RIAA. It later became band's most successful era in terms of achievement and tour gross. Their seventh and final album, Viva Las Vengeance, released in August 2022, became the band's most critically acclaimed album to date.
"Use Somebody" is a song recorded by the American rock group Kings of Leon. It was the second single from the band's fourth studio album Only by the Night, and it entered American and British charts in December 8, 2008, three weeks after the album release. The single was augmented with a music video released a month later.
American singer Selena Gomez has released three solo studio albums, one compilation album, three extended plays (EPs), 36 singles, three promotional singles, and two charity singles. Gomez has sold 6.7 million albums worldwide by October 2015. As of August 2023, she has sold 3.6 million albums in the United States, and shifted more than 11.5 million album equivalent units, including her releases with The Scene. As of May 2017, she has sold 24.3 million songs in the U.S. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), she has achieved 47.5 million certified units, and a further 19.5 million as part of Selena Gomez & the Scene, in the U.S. She has a total of 41 chart entries on the US Billboard Hot 100, including a number one and nine top-ten songs.
James Vincent McMorrow is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. As of 2024, he has released seven studio albums, three EPs, and numerous singles.
Native is the third studio album by American pop band OneRepublic. It was released on March 22, 2013 through Mosley Music Group and Interscope Records in Germany and Ireland, March 25 worldwide except North America, and March 26 in North America. The album was originally planned to be released at the end of 2012 with the lead single being "Feel Again", which was released on August 27, 2012. However, due to the album not being completed at the time, it was pushed back to early 2013.
"Counting Stars" is a song by American pop rock band OneRepublic from their third studio album, Native (2013). The song was written by lead singer Ryan Tedder, and produced by Tedder and Noel Zancanella. It was released as the album's second single on June 14, 2013.
"Firestone" is a song by Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo, featuring vocals from Australian singer Conrad Sewell. It was released on 1 December 2014 and reached number one on the Norwegian Singles Chart and became a big international hit for Kygo on many other charts. Birdy performed a cover of the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.
"Stole the Show" is a song by Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo, featuring vocals from American singer Parson James. It was released on 23 March 2015, becoming a hit in a number of countries and the biggest commercial success of Kygo besides "Firestone". Later, on 21 August 2015, a solo version by James was released. This version was included in his EP, The Temple.
"Stay" is a song by Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo, featuring American singer Maty Noyes. The song was produced by Kygo with fellow Norwegian, William Wiik Larsen, who also wrote it with Noyes. It was released as the fourth single from Kygo's debut studio album, Cloud Nine (2016). An official music video for the song was released on 18 February 2016.
Cloud Nine is the debut studio album by Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo and features the likes of Maty Noyes, Conrad Sewell, Parson James, Tom Odell, Foxes, Matt Corby, Rhodes, Will Heard, Julia Michaels, James Vincent McMorrow, Kodaline, Labrinth, John Legend and Angus & Julia Stone. It was released on 13 May 2016 by Sony Music and Ultra Music.
Oh My My is the fourth studio album by American pop rock band OneRepublic. It was released on October 7, 2016, through Mosley Music Group and Interscope Records, three years after the release of the band's third studio album, Native (2013). Due to Native's success with the tracks "Counting Stars" and "Love Runs Out", Oh My My incorporates some elements of their electronic production. Ryan Tedder, the band's lead singer, songwriter and producer, focused on lyrics about optimism, love, and overcoming past traumas.
Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo has released five studio albums, one extended play, 47 singles, 8 promotional singles, 13 remixes and 29 music videos. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Kygo has sold 10 million certified albums and singles in the US, including the multi-platinum hits "It Ain't Me" with Selena Gomez and "Higher Love" with Whitney Houston.
"Didn't I" is a song by American band OneRepublic, released as the third single from their fifth studio album Human through Interscope Records on March 13, 2020. It was co-written by frontman Ryan Tedder with bassist Brent Kutzle, Zach Skelton, James Abrahart and Kyrre "Kygo" Gørvell-Dahll.
Golden Hour is the third studio album by Norwegian tropical house DJ and record producer Kygo. It was released on 29 May 2020 by Sony Music.
"Lose Somebody" is a song by Norwegian DJ Kygo and American band OneRepublic. It was released through Sony Music on 15 May 2020 as the fifth single from Kygo's third studio album Golden Hour. The song was written by Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll, Philip Plested, Ryan Tedder, Jacob Torrey, Morten Ristorp, Alexander Delicata and Alysa Vanderheym. The song was also included on the deluxe edition of OneRepublic's fifth studio album Human (2021).